When Honeywell International appointed Dave Cote as CEO and chairman in 2002, the world was in recession and the company was in dire straits. But Cote, whose hardscrabble New Hampshire childhood is well documented, was used to turning things around.

Barbara Barrett, CEO of Montana’s Triple Creek Ranch luxury resort, wears a cowboy hat but also many other hats: former U.S. ambassador to Finland, attorney, graduate school president, pilot, horsewoman, adventurer and astronaut.

Salamanders are powerful animals that, legend has it, can walk through fire and come out unscathed. Sounds alot like Salamander Hotels & Resorts CEO Sheila Johnson, who has been a resilient warrior her entire life.

Quote/Unquote

““[Bill Gates] has been historically one of my best supporters…One of my favorite e-mails he ever sent me…I proposed this crazy project. And he sent back this two-line response: ‘This has got to be the craziest thing you’ve ever suggested. Please proceed.’”
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